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Essential PH-1 Is Dead - Long Live Essential PH-1

Essential PH-1 discontinued, company reportedly working on its %u201Cnext mobile product%u201D | Digit.in. The fact that Essential has discontinued the PH-1 to work on a new product is just another reason to buy the best camera for the price available. Of course, the problem is that you have to find one. The phone has a great camera, and I bought it because it had the latest version of Android, was small and compact, and had an edge to edge screen and 126 GB of storage. It has been my backup phone for a while now; but, lately, it is my go to digital camera. It marries well with the Pictar camera handle, and makes a great adjunct to my Canon T6 SLR. When I don't need the long lens, and am out and about, the Essential PH-1 - Pictar combo is the only camera I need. If you can find one, buy it. Andy Rubin has promised it will even be upgraded to Android Q when available. Not bad for an orphan phone.

#TBT - When The Judge Wants To Play With Your New Digital Camera

Circa 2003. Actually, the images weren't bad for an early 2 megapixel camera. 

Mirrorless Android Camera That Uses Canon Lenses

This new mirrorless camera runs Android and supports Canon lenses. I spent an enjoyable day at Zoo Tampa yesterday, and tried out the Miggo Pictar device that makes using a smartphone camera feel a lot like using a traditional DSLR. However, the pairing suffers from the same disease that all Smartphone cameras have, which is the lack of a decent optical zoom. The biggest mistake most amateur photographers make is not filling the screen with the subject of their photograph, and digital zooms just don't cut it. With a 28mm to 400 mm zoom lens, I can pretty much nail any image I want, and zoo photography is ideal for such a lens. If I can get physically close enough to my subject, I can live with the quality of images from a modern smartphone (see photo attached from yesterday's zoo visit); and, the Pictar makes the experience much better. It is light, easy to carry around, and the images get sent to the cloud as soon as I take them. So, this new Android based camera that will accept all my lenses would be pretty cool. It remains to be seen whether this becomes a real product. 

Priceless

Longoria jersey. Check. Nora Ephron's latest book. Check. Pinot Noir. Check. Smartphones. Check. Tablet computer. Check. 

Ready for baseball. Priceless.

MyMiggo Pictar - Turn Your Phone Into A DSLR

Amazon.com: Mymiggo Pictar OnePlus Mark II-Smartphone Camera Grip for iPhone and Android (for Plus-Sized Phones): Cell Phones & Accessories. I recently highlighted a camera grip for Smartphones that made it easier to hold and take photos with a smartphone, adding a bluetooth remote shutter button. But, I received the Pictar OnePlus Mark II today, the second iteration of a full function camera holder for phones that doesn't need bluetooth, and doesn't affect the camera battery. It is larger and more DSLR like in its function, and comes with a neck strap and wrist strap. I might just leave my DSLR at home from now on. The Note 8's camera is light years better than previous phones, and I will post some of my results tonight, as I am going on a sunset cruise at St. Pete Beach. If you are a serious photographer, you are going to want one of these.

The Best Camera Is The One In Your Pocket

I have been a serious amateur photographer for many years. I had a home darkroom in the days of film and slides, and have hundreds of hand made prints around the house and office. I still have my darkroom equipment set up in my home office, even though it hasn't been used in a long time. I even have many SLRs around, although I have graduated to a digital camera that I take when I travel or do nature or zoo photography. However, most days, I am stuck with the camera in my pocket, which we all have and use, in our smartphones. These cameras have been greatly improved, and take quality photographs. The ergonomics, however, are a far cry from the easy to hold, and shoot, of a true SLR camera. So, I was intrigued by this bluetooth remote shutter that creates a comfortable holder for smartphones. The index finger easily presses the shutter button, permitting horizontal and vertical shots with ease. The shutter even removes, for true remote use on a tripod. So, use the camera you have; but, use it in comfort. Remember, the true camera is the one between your ears, and looks at the world through your eyes.

Danger Selfies - Don't Try This At Home

Risky selfies killed 259 people in 6 years, study says - CNET. Hey, I get it. We all want our photos taken in different places; where we travel, where we eat, when we are having fun, so that we can share the experience with our family and friends. I take a lot of photos dining out, playing with the parrots, traveling with friends, and so forth. However, let's be smart, people. Standing on the edge of a mountain or lava field, holding a phone on a stick to get a photo is not a smart thing. People have died doing it. Just don't. I remember, in the days before smartphones, walking a path at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon with a camera, taking photos of the canyon from the trail. I was composing a shot with the trees in the foreground, and got too close to the edge. Thankfully, I looked down at my feet in time, or I would have been at the bottom of the Canyon. So, learn from my stupid mistakes, and be aware of your surroundings. 

Essential 360 Camera For $33.95?

Essential 360 Camera gets significant discount | Android and Me. I got an Essential phone as a backup to my Note 8 for under $250. It has the specs and build quality of far more expensive phones. It was over $700 when it first came out. But, alas, no one bought it, so it has become the best orphan phone out there. But, it works great, and its magnetic accessory, the great little 360 degree camera that originally cost $199, now can be purchased for under $35. Amazing. I am having fun playing with it, and just posted a little clip of myself giving the birds a spray bath on Saturday in the aviary. I will be walking with the phone and camera the next time I go to DisneyWorld. 

#TBT - 360 Degree Image From Essential Phone

TBT - Okay this is a throwback that only goes two weeks ago; but, the Essential phone has a little 360 degree camera accessory that shoots cool photos. This is the first one I took, while sitting at my desk in the office.

Google Photos Gets An Update

Google Photos updated to v4.0 with refreshed Material UI [APK Download]. Even serious amateur photographers like me use the camera we have with us most often. These days, that means the great cameras in our smartphones. In the old days, it was a struggle to find, and organize the hundreds of photos I took. Now, every photo I take with the phone is automatically uploaded to the cloud, and available in Google Photos. The interface is getting better all the time, and the options are also. I love that I am looking at every photo regardless of the device I am using. You don't need any other photo storage service. Really.